Immediately after USC learned it would play Illinois in the Rose Bowl, Trojans coach Pete Carroll went to work on his game plan. But his initial strategy had nothing to do with the Illini, because his first obstacle was his team's apparent lack of excitement.

The USC players' tepid response to the televised announcement they would play Illinois was the first warning sign that a third straight trip to Pasadena was getting a little stale.

"Next year, I'd like to go to the Orange Bowl or somewhere else different, " defensive end Kyle Moore said. "That would be nice."

His sentiments were echoed by his teammates.

"I'm sure a lot of guys would like different venues," linebacker Clay Matthews said. "It's almost like it's become so familiar, we don't have to think about what to do."

USC is not just battling Illinois. It's battling boredom. The Rose Bowl, the Trojans' best friend, has also become its worst enemy.

Imagine the thrill of a third consecutive trip to Disneyland as your bowl field trip. Or another trip to the Beef Bowl.

"Yeah, I hear ya," safety Kevin Ellison said. "I guess we'll be getting on all the rides again, like the teacups."

Carroll took immediate action and planned a getaway to PalmDesert for three days to give preparations for "The Grandaddy Of Them All" a face lift.

"I wouldn't say it's monotony, but I tried to keep it fresh," Carroll said. "It dawned on me that we could take advantage of this."

NCAA rules prevented the Trojans from going more than 30 miles from campus, so the desert getaway was changed to three days of practice at the Home Depot Center in Carson and two nights at a luxury hotel in Santa Monica.

Carroll said he would return to Home Depot Center if the Trojans play in the Rose Bowl again next year and said the different practice site increased the team's focus.

"I really liked it," he said. "The players really enjoyed it. It felt special to be here. The installment week is critical, and this is a good way to increase awareness. There's no question (it would be good) to do something like this again."

At least it helped slow down the complacency. USC's third-year players only know the experience of playing in the Rose Bowl. They admit envying the upperclassmen who got to go to the Orange Bowl.

"They tell us all the time the stories of being in Miami and the party after the Orange Bowl and how warm it was," Moore said.

It also rained, and the team hotel was nowhere near South Beach, but at least it was 3,000miles away from home. Even a trip to a water park in Hollywood, Fla., felt new for the Trojans, who can go to Disneyland any time.

"I'm not a big amusement park guy," Matthews said.

Perhaps things would seem a little more intriguing for the Trojans if the Rose Bowl did them a favor when choosing an opponent. Although teams like Kansas, Missouri, Hawaii and West Virginia were available, the Rose Bowl went for tradition and took the Big Ten Conference's second-place team, Illinois.

That gives USC little chance of making a major move in the rankings by playing the second-to-last-team eligible to be picked for a BCS bowl game.

That decision prompted the lack of enthuasiasm when the team gathered for the bowl announcement, highlighted by an administrative assistant clapping and yelling in a vain attempt to elicit some emotion.

Matthews skipped the announcement.

"I knew we were going to play Illinois," Matthews said. "I thought they would keep it in the Big Ten."

Moore, who is from Georgia, wanted to play the Bulldogs. Unfortunately for him, the Southeastern Conference team was protected by the SugarBowl from being picked for the RoseBowl.

"I would have been up for that game," Moore said. "I've got a lot of friends on that team, and they all play offense. I would have loved to play against them."

[More
at www.dailybreeze.com]

OTHER USC FOOTBALL NEWS

USC FOOTBALL NEWS

Celtic moved to draw a line under the Tannadice penalty saga by praising Stewart Regan's plans for reform at the Scottish Football Association.Celtic moved to draw a line under the Tannadice penalty saga by praising Stewart Regan's plans for reform at the . Referee Dougie McDonald received a warning after lying about the reasons for overturning a penalty. "We are encouraged by the proposals of

Kravitz: State's major football teams can only look up to SycamoresAnd now, my annual state-of-the-state college football address. (Actually, it's my first, but it sounds better to make it sound like a regular feature): Bleccccch. If I could make my computer issue a gagging sound, I

November 6: HS football playoffs part 2Current Conditions in Danville, Vermilion County Airport, IL:

November 6: HS football playoffs part 1Current Conditions in Danville, Vermilion County Airport, IL:

Tevez drops Manchester City quit hintCarlos Tevez admits he could leave Manchester City Football Club and quit the Premier League.The Argentine international has been in England since the summer of 2006 when he completed a shock loan move to West Ham United, where

Chelsea coach reveals Roma desireChelsea Football Club coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed a desire to return to Roma in the future.The Italian has been a huge success at Stamford Bridge, leading the Blues to the

Beware resurgent Liverpool, warns Drogba (AFP)world is against you, that is when you pull together. These things will make us stronger as a football club." Sunday Arsenal v Newcastle Utd (1330 GMT), West Bromwich Albion v Man City (1500 GMT), Liverpool v Chelsea (1600 GMT) Follow Yahoo! News on

Trouble at Downsthe club as their cars have allegedly been taken away by Makhanya THERE is a â€śdictatorâ€ť at glamour football club Mamelodi Sundowns who has everyoneâ€™s blood pressure hitting the roof. And club president Patrice Motsepe apparently knows nothing about

Raiders ready for old-style schemeRun the ball. Stop the run. It's what football used to be all about before passing took hold. The central tenet espoused by the forefathers of the NFL will be back in vogue today when the Raiders and Kansas

Don't let the view ruin your Wi-Filook up from the computer for a moment and glance out the window -- at a Friday night football game in a town they've never passed through before and will never pass through again, at a diner whose owner is unlocking and opening the front door as the